Electric metering system



Sept. 3, 1935. w R w 2,012,980

ELECTRIC METERING SYSTEM Filed April 24, 1934 mm INVENTOR L 43 PI YCQMWA W l MTFTORNEYS Patented Sept. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICMETERHVG SYSTEM Walter F. Wilm, Brooklyn, N. Y., 855K1 of one-half toMilton M. Eisenberg Application April 24, 1934, Serial No. 722,075

A 3Claims.

Thisinvention relates to systems for distributing electricity.

Inthe usual arrangement of electric meters for measuring the consumptionof current in houses, 8 apartments and other buildings, the line wire isconnected to one terminal of a fuse socket on a switch block. From thefuse the circuit extends to the meter and then to one of the switchterminals. With such an arrangement it is possible 1 for the consumer toshunt the current around the meter by making a connection between twoadjacent terminals on the switch block. The loss of considerable revenueis suffered by the electric power companies in this way.

In the present invention I provide a system in which the line wires areshielded by a 13-1! cable or other means to prevent access to them. Theshielded wires extend into a compartment in the switch box to whichaccess by the consumer is a prevented. A meter testing block is arrangedin this compartment to permit testing of the meter in the usual way. Theincoming positive wire may be connected to one of the terminals of thetesting block, then to the meter, then to the fuse and house switch, orit may be connected first to the fuse and switch, then to the meter andtesting block. In either instance the connections are so made thatshunting oi the current around the meter is prevented.

simplifies the disconnecting of current to a house, apartment or otherbuilding, when the current is cut of! for nonpayment of bills or forother reasons. The present practice is to remove the ii-fuse from theswitch box and insert a device known as a "lock fuse which breaks thecircuit and which can not be readily removed. However, it is stillpossible to shunt the current around the fuse socket by a bridgingconnection. While 4G such current registers on the meter it permits theuse of current by a consumer in arrears on payment when such use is notintended. The compartment to which access by the consumer is preventedis so arranged that instead. of remov- L ing the fuse the lead wires tothe switch block can be disconnected and arranged in this compartment insuch manner that proper connections can not be made to supply current tothe building without leaving evidence that the switch "box has beentampered with. As a further precaution the locking means controllingthis compartment may be arranged to lock the meter to the top of theswitch box and prevent access to the compartment by the removal of themeter.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown A further advantage of theinvention is that it several embodiments of the invention. In thedrawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a switch box and meter with the cover ofthe switch box in open position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the cover in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a. horizontal, sectional view on line 3-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the switch block and meter showing analternate arrangement of wiring connections; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing several switch boxes connected tothe line wire for use in apartments, etc.

Referring to the drawing the reference numeral l designates generally aswitch box of the usual construction. One of the advantages of thepresent invention is the provision of a wiring system in which thepresent switch boxes and meters can be used without substantialalteration. The front of the switch box is normally closed by a cover 2hinged at the bottom thereof, as indicated at 3. One side wall of theswitch box is provided with an opening for entrance of the line wires.The line wires are designated by'the reference numerals 4 and 5, and areshown shielded by a flexible tubing 6, such as the usual B-X cable. Thiscable extends from the service switch (not shown) to the upper portionof the switch box. A pipe 8 may be arranged in the opening through whichthe line wires pass and may be secured in position by nuts 9.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l of the drawing, the line wiresproject from the end of the B-X cable in the upper portion of the switchbox and the positive wire 4 is connected to a terminal II on a. metertesting block H. The meter testing block is made of insulating materialin the usual manner. The terminal I!) is in turn connected to a terminalI2 and from this terminal a lead wire l3 extends to the meter. As shown,a meter l4 rests upon the top of the box and projects through an openingI5 therein. From the meter the positive side of the circuit is connectedby a wire ii to a fuse socket terminal I! on a switch block I8. Theswitch block I I is likewise made of suitable insulating material.Terminal I1 is connected to a socket l8 adapted to receive a fuse l9 andthe other side of the socket is connected to a terminal 20. A switchterminal H is arranged adjacent the fuse socket terminal 2. and isconnected thereto by a wire 22. A similar switch terminal 23 is arrangedat the opposite side of the switch block and the two terminals areadapted to be connected by the usual manually operated switch 24. Thisswitch is connected to an operating member 25 by a link 26, theoperating member being provided with crank portions 21 and being furtherprovided with an operating handle 28 arranged on the exterior of thebox. The fuse block as shown is provided with duplicate switch terminalsand fuse socket and with a double knife switch to permit the use of theapparatus in connection with circuits employing 250 volts. From theswitch terminal 23 the positive side of the circuit is connected to thehouse by a wire 24.

The negative wire 5 extends to a terminal 25' on the meter testing blockII which is connected to a terminal 26. From this terminal a ground wire2'! extends to the meter and another wire 28' extends to the housecircuit. To prevent access to the upper portion of the switch box inwhich the connections are arranged, I provide a closure memberconsisting of a vertical wall 29 and a horizontal wall 30. This memberis hinged to one side of the switch box adjacent the top as indicated at3|. When in the closed position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, thevertical wall 29 is arranged inside the cover and the horizontal wall 30extends toward the back of the box to prevent access to the compartmentformed thereby. When the circuit has been connected this member isarranged in closed position and means are provided 'for preventingaccess to the interior of this compartment. As shown, a spring pressedlatch 32 is carried on the free edge of the wall 29 and is adapted tocooperate with a clip 33 on the opposite side of the switch box. At apoint adjacent the latch, when the latch is in closed position, the sidewall is provided with an opening having a bushing 34 arranged therein.This bushing is adapted to receive a glass 35 which is retained inposition by a threaded sleeeve 36. The closure member is also providedwith means for locking the meter in position above the switch box sothat unauthorized access to the connections cannot be obtained byremoving the meter. As shown, the meter is provided with a bottom plate31 which projects into the opening I5 at the top of the switch box. Thisplate may be provided with a slightly offset portion 38 to receive alocking member 39 carried by the closure member.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing I have shown an alternate arrangement ofconnections. As shown, the positive line wire 4 is connected to the fusesocket terminal I 1. From the fuse socket terminal :0 connection is madeto the switch terminal 2| by wire 22 as heretofore described. From theswitch terminal 23 a wire 40 is connected to the meter and wire 4| fromthe meter is connected to the terminal I 2 on the meter testing blockII. From the terminal ill a wire 42 extends to the house circuit. Thereturn side of the circuit is connected in the manner heretoforedescribed in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have shown an arrangement whereby a pluralityof meters in a single building, such as an apartment, are connected tothe line wires. As shown, the shielded line wires 43 extend into thebuilding to a switch box I and within the switch box I provide ajunction box 44 which is closed and which prevents access to the linewires. Wires 45 extend from the junction box to the upper portion of theswitch box and these wires are shielded as heretofore described.Likewise wires 46 extend from the junction box to the next switch box I.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing it is impossible toshunt the current into the building without passing through the meterbecause the consumer only has access to that portion of the switch boxin which the switch block is mounted. As the current passes from themeter testing block to the meter and thence to the switch block anyshunting of current at any of the terminals on the switch block wouldcause the shunted used current to register on the meter. The glass 3'5may be of some distinguishing design so that if the consumer shouldbreak this glass to change the connections and then replace it by aglass of the same size, it would at once be apparent to a representativeof the electric power company that the box had been tampered with.Likewise, the closure member prevents the meter from being removed toalter the connections through access to the switch box through openingHi. In the form of the invention. shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, thepositive line wire is first connected to the fuse socket 18, then to themeter, then through the testing block to the house circuit. While it istheoretically possible to shunt current from the circuit at any of theterminals on the switch block, without passing the current through themeter, the connections on the return side of the circuit are allinaccessible and it would there fore be a difficult matter to connectsuch shunted current to the house circuit.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a switch box having anopening in the top thereof, a meter arranged on said box and extendinginto said opening, a member hinged to one side of said box and adaptedto close the portion of said box immediately below the bottom of saidmeter to render it inaccessible, a latch carried by said member operablefrom the inside of said box, said box being provided with an openingadjacent said latch, and frangible means for closing said opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a. switch box having anopening in the top thereof, a meter arranged on said box and extendinginto said opening, a right angle member hinged to one side of said boxand adapted to prevent access to the upper portion of said box when saidmember is in closed position, means for locking said member in closedposition, terminals arranged in the upper part of said box, shieldedline wires extending into the inaccessible portion of said box andconnected to said terminals, a switch block in the accessible portion ofsaid box, and connections between said meter, said terminals and saidswitch block.

3. In a device of the character described, a switch box having anopening in the top thereof, a meter arranged on said box and extendinginto said opening below the top of said box, a member hinged to one sideof said box and adapted to close the portion of said box immediatelybelow the bottom of said meter, means for locking said hinged member inclosed position, and a locking member carried by said hinged member andadapted to engage the portion of said meter extending in said box toprevent removal of said meter when said hinged member is in closedposition.

WALTER F. WILM.

